Seek First His Basileia (kingdom, rule and reign)

I’ve been writing since I learned to read, but my parent’s instilled in me a passion for it that carries the drive into today.

All three of us are published authors who crave the written word, and when you exercise any type of writing discipline it was create it’s own redemption as you exercise therapy on the blank screen or empty white page.

This revelation came to me last night after our home church departed. When church works there’s nothing like it, and that epiphany struck a chord in me as we broke bread together last night. The funny thing about it, although, that’s a bad semantic, but I’ll go with it, is that I did not prepare whatsoever for home church last night. Our church family is grieving right now for Blake Batson who as of last Facebook update from his sister Gayle was still in ICU. His sodium levels are dangerously low, and he’s been having consistent strokes since Thursday is the way I understand it.

Blake’s mom and dad Judy and Frank are dear people to Carey and me, and we’ve been on our knees for complete healing since Thursday, so I think our home church preparation took a backseat to that urgency.

We still gathered, and amazingly as we each shared our stories the Holy Spirit didn’t need an agenda or syllabus to transform our hearts and minds.

Understanding our story is essential, but for me, moving on is even more important to create a better story.

We love you Father, and without You we are nothing. Make this day filled with Your promises to feel love and give love, and for those people we’d rather not be with that we have to be with change our hearts and attitudes about them, and change their hearts and attitudes about us. We fill our lives with so many things, but we desperately want our lives filled with You. Some things are good, and some things are bad, but when we seek You first, You shall add all these good things unto us. Empower us to seek You, to long for You. Empower us to make choices that make You the first resort rather than a fox-hole prayer. In Jesus name amen.

My Two Cents

“How are you?” He asked.

“Good, How are you?” He responded.

“Good.” He replied.

That shallow conversation happens a million times in North America. We ask it, but we don’t really care. Words are a dime a dozen, but when it comes to lamenting or being authentic with our pain we pretend all is good, and the pink elephant only gets bigger.

Jesus brought to this earth a love and acceptance for the suffering we go through, but time and again we shut Him out because we don’t want to “step on any toes”, “rock the boat”, or worse yet, make ourselves uncomfortable because we might actually help someone heal from their pain.

There is an authentic and appropriate way to go about this, but let me suggest you start by not asking someone how their doing unless you really care. Let’s choose our words carefully, and when small talk is called for, smile and say hello.

As salt and light in a world that does not know Jesus I think this is a good place to start. This is what I’m after, and maybe the next time you really do want to know how someone is doing a real connection will happen.

 

 

Joy For Other’s Success

Amy Grant just came out with a new album, and it made me think about the one they did years ago called Songs From The Loft. Some of you might have been there when they recorded it.

One of the songs on that album was recorded by Susan Ashton, one of my favorite artists. Part of the lyrics go as follows.

They say we need money and power. They say there’s no God up above. Don’t they know our Friend in high places never can be stronger than love?

I have sung those exact lyrics probably a thousand times over the years, and it never ceases to bless. My heart still grows heavy when my brothers and sisters are jealous of others who are “more” affluent than they.

Back to my number one existential question. How do we exercise rejoicing and grieving in the presence of each other? Our God is jealous for our attention, but not for the reason someone might want the 10k square foot house you have. His constant pursuit of our undivided attention is non-stop, and so long we aren’t guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, whatever that is, He will never stop pursuing us. His unconditional love 24/7 pursues us with an abandon that makes teenage sexual drive look like a drip drip faucet. All the other things we pursue day in and day out don’t hold a damn candle to what He is wanting to bring us. Why can’t we seem to get that?

Because we constantly compare ourselves to every breathing human that walks this planet. I could go right now into the living room and be bombarded with advertisement after advertisement about what I don’t have, and they will convince me I have to buy it. We have lies being thrown at us 24/7, but once again, God’s love is 24/7, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church, and I will add —His persevering children.

So persevere dear one in the face of insurmountable odds, but know that with Him they are surmountable. Call Satan out in the name of Jesus Christ when you can’t rejoice with those that receive blessings. Stuff doesn’t matter, and power alone is in God, but when someone receives a blessing material or spiritual, we rejoice.

How else can our cup runneth over?

Work and Rest

I’m writing a book about how to start your own one-person maid service. There are a number of inspirations behind it, but I think the number one inspiration behind it is the fact that there is not a book or ebook like it on Amazon. I’ve searched for it many times.

In 2007 when I first started this business I looked for a book like it, and I would have bought it in a heartbeat, but there was nothing like it on the market. There was a plethora of housekeeping books out there, but nothing pertaining to my unique niche.

That’s why I think it’ll do well. I think too that that is why it is so challenging to me because I don’t want to just put fluff out there. I know house cleaning is not rocket science, but I think if you do anything professionally you must take pride in what you create.

Each time I go into a client’s home I’m creating a new experience for them to benefit from. I’m cleaning the same things the same way, but the interaction, thoughts and life circumstances are evolving for both of us as we journey through this life.

I’ve read that authors get their best ideas while washing dishes, and frankly I’m quite thankful I just received my first dishwasher at the age of forty. I’ve had thirty years to gather inspiration, thoughts and ideas. That’s priceless. And now I think I’m reaping those epiphanies as several book ideas float through my head. This blog is a product of those years, and I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my friend Craig Eckstein for the years of encouragement he offered as I grew up in Michigan. He is one amazing man, and when he was our youth pastor the way he inspired and loved us will always be remembered.

I think another thing that comes to mind when I ponder this book idea is that I’ve heard it said that you don’t mix business with pleasure. I understand that philosophy, but as an entrepreneur I cannot divorce myself from my business. I know I’m not what I do, but when I interact with a customer my personality, values and humor are as much a part of the service I sell.

When in Rome do as the Romans the saying goes, so obviously we match our behavior with the expectant norm of our surroundings. It’s the loving thing to do, but when we feel led to buck normalcy we’d better expect a certain amount of isolation. I guess that can be expected when we blaze our own trails. We are still part of a community, albeit, family, school, work, church, country club and kid’s activities etc., but nonetheless even if we work for a large employer we are blazing a trail.

The average employment tenure is 3 years, and since the market crash of 08 I suspect it’s less than that now. The days of my grandfather working 30+ years for an employer are gone. Pensions are disappearing, the gold watch is melted down for the CEO’s 401k, and that call center is going to India.

It’s time to think outside the box. It’s been time to think outside the box. Our new Sam Walton’s are people like Seth Godin, Sam Davidson, Daniel Tomlinson, Rob Touchstone, Daniel Thompson and John Pyle. These individuals know that it’s not necessarily what we went to college to study that earns a paycheck. Oh, many of us still use what we learned in college and grad school, but it’s not our bread and butter as it used to be.

Don’t wring your hands in desperation because in many ways America’s best days are ahead. The political climate has never been more polar opposite, but in the heated debates we are finding common ground on which to stand, but it’s not what we expected. I’m not saying we have to compromise our God-given values or sacrifice our beliefs because some talking head told us to, but I am saying that we have got to be flexible when it comes to our shoulds and should nots.

The idea that we work 9-5 Monday through Friday 48 weeks a year for 30 years is one thing we need to delete from our minds. Oh, that business model will always be there because, well, we need light bulbs, but companies like Apple are showing us that results are what build economic stability.

Tomlinson House Cleaning, LLC used to charge by the hour, but now I charge by the job. In the five short years I’ve been on Nashville’s business landscape I’ve reinvented myself and my company for greater sustainability and growth even if I don’t hire employees. This is what today’s success looks like. Yesterday I did have a 12 hour day, but today I had a 3 hour day. That’s what self-employment looks like, and you have to be willing to make the trade-offs necessary to make it work.

That’s challenging and rewarding because many of us self-employed folk have our offices right in our homes, and it’s difficult to leave work at work, but you have to draw that boundary. Like everything in life it’s a paradox. A catch-22 if you will because as I wrote earlier do you really have to divide business and pleasure? Yes and no.

I think that’s where my faith comes in. Proverbs 3:5-6 talks about not leaning on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. He’s done that my entire life even more so now that I don’t have my parents telling me when to eat, shower, go to bed and get up to do it all over again. Being parented by my parents was a priceless treasure I’ll never take for granted, but being fathered by God, well, I’m speechless.

God spoke this global village into existence, but on the seventh day He rested.

As a grateful child of God I use Friday night to rest.

I pray you find rest as well.

Solomon The Wise

Jeremy and Crystal left Nashville for Orlando on Monday, and their niece Chloe grieved their departure. It made me grieve their departure at a deeper level too.

They were here to care for Meme and Papa because Meme had a hip replacement last Wednesday. They both worked Solomon hard because that’s who they are. It moves me now, melodramatically, because when Jesus shows up love and hearts are moved beyond words, and to convey it in a post is quite inadequate. Books have been written about it.

I hate it that Solomon turned from Yahweh, but in his time on planet Earth his writings were produced, and they continue to bless thousands of years later. Here is what stands out to me about his teaching.

•Life is meaningless w/o Yahweh.
•Relationships are vital.
•Work, rest and play are important.
•Stuff is meaningless when it becomes a means and end.
•The end of life is about relationship, not portfolios.

Coming To Table

Mom got a new hip on Wednesday. As the mom of 4 boys it is certainly no surprise she had to have it done. There is no telling how many marathons she has walked, and ran at times, wiping snotty noses, changing diapers, nursing twisted basketball ankles, taking boys to college, walking down wedding aisles, caring for grandkids and moving all over the United States. She is a saint.

One of the most remarkable films of our lifetime has to be The Passion of The Christ, and  when the Madonna pauses over the place where her Son bowed in agony an indelible picture of memory entered my head for something that could have really happened even though it was Mel Gibson’s imagination. Truth is stranger than fiction, but I think the way Gibson used Maia Morgenstern’s ability to act showed Mary’s love for Jesus. I can only imagine losing my daughter, and even though today is bitter sweet for some of you I’ve been bowing in prayer for you the way Mary bowed in prayer for the unjust punishment her Son Jesus received.

As we pause here at table some of us are solemn because, yes, the death of Christ was a tragic event, and we must never forget that, but it was cause for celebration, especially as we here in the 21^st century see what the resurrection means. We’ve had 2000 years to disseminate the information, and thoughI likely will not have to lay down my life for the cause of Christ, I must strive week after week never to let this sacrament be a routine that creates a yawn. That’s why I turn to table as a time to celebrate recovery because 2000 years ago Jesus conquered all the ills that plague us today. They are not gone, for I did not write fought plagues, but just as assuredly as the stone was rolled away, so this temporary dwelling will be done away with.

The Apostles continued on even after Jesus ascended, yet even many of them had to face demons of their own. The Holy Spirit was with them, and we continue to talk about Jesus and the Apostles to this day. Like our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers, they inspire us to come to table to break bread and drink the wine. This communion is not just a solemn, individual and lonely isolated activity, but it is called communion because we commune with God and each other.

There are many times when Carey, Chloe and I are breaking bread and drinking the wine when I will look them straight in the eye and tell them I love them because Jesus loves me. That’s okay. It’s okay as well to bow your head in silence as we do this in remembrance of Me, but don’t give someone the raised eyebrow if they get up to greet another struggling brother or sister because after all, this is communion, and the temple veil was torn.

Let’s not make our traditions gospel to the exclusion of broken relationships being restored.

The cross was just that. It brought Heaven to Earth so God’s wrath would not be poured out on His children.

Let’s spare our own wrath as we love each other.

For All That You’ve Done

20 years ago my brother Jeremy and I were at a camp in north Nashville. I was a college sophomore, 20 years old, so Jeremy was in the seventh grade, 12 years old.

Today, Jeremy and I serviced a client together, and it struck me how the span then, is not the span now. In fact, we are dealing with the same existential questions. It is remarkable, and as our mom prepares for a hip replacement in the morning our prayers are the same.

Time is an equalizer of sorts because the closer you move toward the end of life the more you realize how time flies, and I think the better you become at accepting how broken the world really is.

It doesn’t stop us from hoping, planning and working hard. Hence our mom’s hip replacement. Jeremy, Crystal, Jaxon and Benjamin drove all the way from the Orlando area to be with us to help care for mom in the aftermath of her surgery. That loving action is rought with hope, plans and hard work.

You cannot put a price on something like that.

When love works you feel it deep within your heart, and there is no phoniness associated with it. The sincerity is dripping from the pours of the heart, and it moves like nothing else can. No wonder its the first fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit continues to boggle my mind. But I accept it with arms wide open.

Facebook has closed the gap even further to show us what it takes to keep up with the Jones’. We used to have to watch tv to see what we don’t have, but now we can log onto social media accounts to see the incredible affluence the Jones’ have. As we grapple with what we don’t have till the day we die let’s be reminded that love rejoices with those who rejoice, and it mourns with those who mourn.

Jeremy and Crystal do this in their young marriage. Carey and I have rubbed shoulders with rich and poor alike, but the thread that binds us all together is love. Love always protects. It always trusts. It always perseveres. Love never fails.

I shared some very private things today with Jeremy that gave me a resolve and direction that can only be rooted in love. When you have a brother in blood and Christ that you can do that with, well, it leaves you speechless with thanks.

That kind of spiritual affluence is eternal, and the influence is Supernatural.

To Him be the glory.